The Hawaiian gazette., 1887-12-06

Rep. Heiekuuihi presented a petit
ton from Makawao, praying % that
persons only suspected of leprosy be
allowed to go at large; ~ that only
pronounced cases be taken to the hos
pital; and 81 that DR.. Iwai be APP
pointed in charge of the hospital.
Referred to the Sanitary Committee.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Noble Townsend read the report of
the special committee on the Military
bills. Committee report new bill.
entitled IAN Act to provide for the or
ganiZation, regulation and discipline
of the military forces of the King
dom,n which they claim will secure
two objects, ID simplicity, and (2)
legaliZation of existing companies.
Following are the provisions of the
bill, briefly stated:
Section / sanctions the continued
existence of the Honolulu Rifles, the
Kings Own, the Queens Own, and
the LeleiohOku Guards.
Section authorizes the Government
TO enlist and maintain a standing
army of IS men, including officers.
Il. Section 3 places the forces under
~ 5hS'nand of a Brigadier-General, sub
§\ the superior command of the
King, the Brigadier-General to serve
without pay.
Section 1 places all military forces
and public property used in connec-
ton with the same, and the eXpendi-
lures of moneys for the same, under
the general control and supervision of
the Minister of Interior.
Section ) repeats the Act TO Organize
the Military Forces of the Kingdom,
passed October l, 1856.
Rep. c. Brown gave reasons for not
signing the report. The new bill had
been drawn up at a secret meeting of
the committee, of which he had not
been notified. He knew nothing of
this report or of the new bill until the
report was placed before him this
morning for signature.
Noble Castle moved the report be
received and laid on the table with the
bills, for the future consideration of
the House. Carried.
Noble Castle presented the report of
the select committee on opium and
liquor, on the return submitted by the
Minister of Finance on November 18th,
in answer to Noble Dole's resolution
of the 18th, that the Minister inform
the House of the amount and value of
malt and spirituous liquors and wines
which have been admitted to this
Kingdom free of duty in the period
embraced between October l, 1885, and
October ], 1887, and to whom con-
signed. Following is the report:
That they have made some examination of
the subject matter contained in said state
ment but that time will not suffice for an
exhaustive treatment of the same. Sufficient
has been learned, however, to enable the
committee to report and make recommended
tions looking to a correction of the evils
therein exposed to the light.
The statement shows that the amount of
duties RENTED covers ales, beers, wines and
spirits, and the total amount of duties is
1897 SO. OF this there have been with
draw2ls for or on account of the King, Gov
ering $34SS5 81. On account of the Board
of Health for the Queens Hospital, ETC., etc,
covering 1851 05. The remainder is for
Withdrawals on account of foreign diplo-
matte representatives covering duties
amounting to S4,319 80.
1t may not be known by many members of
the Legislature and citizens that these with
drawals are covered by law. Part of Sec
ton 517 of the Civil Code provides that no
duty shall be levied on goods imported
for che use of the Government, or of the King
and Queen and goods imported
for the private use and consumption of for
eign diplomatic representatives" The mean
order TO entitle any goods intended for such
use to be exempt from duty, the Importation
should have been for the express object and
purpose covered by the law. But in the case
of the Hawaiian Government certainly no
good reason exists why such construction
should be enforced. If the Minister
of Interior requires a thousand dol
lars worth of material for the Gov
eminent, and the material is In
somebody's stock of goods in town, duty
paid; and by throwing off the duty, 1t can
be purchased for eight hundred dollars, there
can be no valid objection TO permitting an
allowance OF two hundred dollars to the
seller. and so reducing the cost to the tax
payer. Thus it will be seen that had the
Board of Health paid duties, the material
used for the Queens Hospital covered by the
statement would simply have cost 1891 more
to the country. 1t is probable that from
the above suggested relaxation of the law
came the present status, relative to foreign
diplomatic representatives. So far as
brought to the knowledge of the committee,
not quart of the Withdrawals on account of
such representatives was actually imported
by or for them. In place thereof the custom
has grown INTO regular practice, that the
representative orders what he wants from
dealers in town. The goods are delivered
and when the account is settled, an order is
signed by the representative in favor of the
dealer, who presents the same at the Custom |
House ana tue WITHDRAWAL Is mace Quly Tree. |
Your committee desire here to say that
they can see no good to be obtained from
general publication of details and refrain
from SO doing. twill be at once discourteous
and useless to drag the private affairs of
these gentlemen before the public. When |
their attention is called to an abuse they will |
see that so far as concerns them it Will be
remedied. But it is equally duty that We
protect ourselves and guard all of our rights.
The privilege accorded foreign diplomats
is based upon their representing another
sovereignty. 1t is strictly personal privi-
lege pertaining to themselves in their official
capacity. No one probably will wish to deny
such latitude TO the law as will include the
household establishments and the rites of
hospitality of these gentlemen, but beyond 1
that our sovereign and independent rights
step in and circumscribe the privilege. OF
course these principles are frankly and
cordially accepted by all of the gentlemen
covered in this enquiry, and the committee
therefore proceed the more freely to state,
that ro for az IL vvac deau1ad necessary IN av-